Ashbourne

About Ashbourne

Ashbourne is a market town in Derbyshire approximately 13 miles north west of Derby.  It lies on the southern edge of the Peak District and is the closest town to the popular area of Dovedale.

Henmore Brook, a tributary of the River Dove flows through the middle of the town.  Ashbourne is known as both a Gateway to the Peak District and a Gateway to Dovedale, the local beauty spot, where you can find the famous “stepping stones” and Thorpe Cloud alongside the River Dove.

Ashbourne was granted a market charter in 1257 and the town today hosts a traditional outdoor market each Thursday and Saturday on the cobbled Market Place.  A Farmer's Market is also held there on the second Sunday of each month.

The town is surrounded by beautiful countryside and is a popular base for a holiday especially with walkers, cyclists and horse riders.  At the nearby Carsington Water you may participate in water sports, walking and cycling as well as enjoying a wildlife centre and a range of shops, cafes and restaurants.  The “Tissington Trail”, the popular walking and cycling path, starts on the northern outskirts of Ashbourne and joins the “High Peak Trail” at Parsley Hay.

Other nearby attractions are Alton Towers, Sudbury Hall, which houses the National Trust Museum of Childhood, and Ilam Park.